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From Joseph H. Trego to Alice Trego
[page 1]
Atkinson
July 21st 1863
My Dear Little wife
Since my last writing I have been on the go almost constantly. The low water in the Mississippi which prevented boats from running made me considerable more trouble and some more expense, having to continue on by rail from Quincy. I left Galesburg Monday morning the 13th and came around to Colona station where I got off thinking I could get a conveyance to Deanington without difficulty, but there just happened to not be on[e] horse in the place so was obliged to foot it for about five miles to Geo[.] Sively's. Geo. carried me on to Henry's[.] I was some tired and rested there the next day. On Wednesday Henry & self drove down to Allen's. Found the folks flourishing, had all the ripe goose berries and cherries we wanted for one day. Kezia felt very badly for some time at the absence of Mary Ellen but presently she recovered from it and my stay there was a very pleasant one.
Wilmerton proved to be the man from whom Sherman was to obtain money and before he would do anything, he must see the records, so Mr[.] Sherman and wife, Wilmerton and myself started the next morning to Aledo, and had the whole matter fixed up there at once. The next day Henry and I returned to Deanington[.] I felt unwell in the morning when I started out and that afternoon I had a good deal of fever and had to lay by. It prevented me from visiting at Yardley's only giving them a call, when I first came to the place. Both the Lizzies came to Henry's the afternoon that I was sick. Saw no one else in that place but Scudder and family who were at J[.] Allen's when I returned from Aledo.
The next morning--Saturday--Willet drove me down to Coal valley where I took cars for Rock Island. I had Will fill some teeth for me, took dinner with him, and tea at Mr[.] Riggs', called at Conant's after dark finding the folks all right side up, and was at the station at 10 O'clk p.m. to take cars

This letter, dated July 21, 1863, is from Joseph H. Trego, a lieutenant in the 5th Kansas Cavalry Regiment, to his wife Alice. He writes from Atkinson, Illinois, updating Alice on his recent and future travels, and reporting on the health and well-being of several acquaintances. He expresses optimism for the future of Kansas, predicting that it will prosper if it “should prove capable of producing enough to support a large population.”

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From Joseph H. Trego to Alice Trego
[page 1]
Atkinson
July 21st 1863
My Dear Little wife
Since my last writing I have been on the go almost constantly. The low water in the Mississippi which prevented boats from running made me considerable more trouble and some more expense, having to continue on by rail from Quincy. I left Galesburg Monday morning the 13th and came around to Colona station where I got off thinking I could get a conveyance to Deanington without difficulty, but there just happened to not be on[e] horse in the place so was obliged to foot it for about five miles to Geo[.] Sively's. Geo. carried me on to Henry's[.] I was some tired and rested there the next day. On Wednesday Henry & self drove down to Allen's. Found the folks flourishing, had all the ripe goose berries and cherries we wanted for one day. Kezia felt very badly for some time at the absence of Mary Ellen but presently she recovered from it and my stay there was a very pleasant one.
Wilmerton proved to be the man from whom Sherman was to obtain money and before he would do anything, he must see the records, so Mr[.] Sherman and wife, Wilmerton and myself started the next morning to Aledo, and had the whole matter fixed up there at once. The next day Henry and I returned to Deanington[.] I felt unwell in the morning when I started out and that afternoon I had a good deal of fever and had to lay by. It prevented me from visiting at Yardley's only giving them a call, when I first came to the place. Both the Lizzies came to Henry's the afternoon that I was sick. Saw no one else in that place but Scudder and family who were at J[.] Allen's when I returned from Aledo.
The next morning--Saturday--Willet drove me down to Coal valley where I took cars for Rock Island. I had Will fill some teeth for me, took dinner with him, and tea at Mr[.] Riggs', called at Conant's after dark finding the folks all right side up, and was at the station at 10 O'clk p.m. to take cars